Method of treating quebracho.



J. M. PISKE.

METHOD OF TREATING QUEBRACHO.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1912.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

msmao,

l/VVE/VTUR "Br ATTORNEY STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, JOSI H-Mason FISKE, on NEW YORK, NQY:

KEIHODBOE TREATING QUEBRAJCHO:

Specification of Letters In tent: Application, filed we 19, 1912. SerialNo. 704,520.

a specification.

. The solid extract of quebracho isnow a commercial commodity, and'islargely used in tanning. This extract is prepared by macerating wood andthen evaporating the solution in a. vacuum apparatus. The solid extractcontains from fi O to 65.percent. of

soluble. tannins; the balance representing moistnrefl-andivariousinsoluble bodies.

The; practice, heretofore, for "treating the solid extract to'fit it foruse, has consisted in introducing the solid extract into a body ofwater, then heati g, and finally drawing off. the solution of thesoluble matters; or alternatively, introducing the solid extracts intobaskets and moving the baskets through a body of warm-water until thesoluble matters have gone into solution, leaving the insoluble mattersin the basket. Both of these methods have proven unsatisfactory,

for thereason thatif the solid-extractis subjected to the action of hotWater and in the presence of the atmosphere, the tannin graduallychanges its form and becomes insoluble, which renders it useless fortanning.-

The'purpose of my invention, therefore, is amethod byv reason ofwhichthe solid extract can be converted into a fluid extract, free from theinsoluble matters, and in which the treatment will not increase theproportion of insoluble matters.

The accompanying drawings will serve to illustrate the apparatus which Iprefer to use, and in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the apparatus with the variouspipes shown in elevation and also diagrammatically representing theconnection of the apparatus in a thermostatic electric'circuit. 2 is ,atransverse section'and plan view taken .on the line X-X of Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a vertical section through the thermostatic apparatus showing itsconnection to the vessel.

The drawings are in a sense diagrammatic and are not intended to showspecific details of construction, as it iswithin the intent ofmyinvention, so far as-the method is concerned, to useanyapparatusthrough be carried out.

In the drawings, 5.indicates acylindrical vessel provided with a; cover-6, adapted to.be fastened by means-of:a catch 7, The bottom ofthe vesselpreferably. has the shape of an inverted cone'8, from the botcarry offthe insoluble material, controlled by a valve 10. Located centrallywithin bottom and. supported-upon-a standard 12; The-top of tube 11 isshownas the fluid level in-the vessel.

13 indicates a steam pipe provided with a nozzle l4 projectingupwardinto the tube adapted. to becontrolled by both a hand wheel 16andmagnet 17.

18 indicates-a steam pipe having a delivery orifice .19 located withinthe vessel 5. Pipes 13 and 18 are connected to any suitable source ofsteam (not shown). Situated about midway in the vessel is a tube 20carrying a thermostatic device 21.

22 represents a local circuit; 23, battery, The terminals of the localcircuit are connected to the terminals 2 1--25 of the thermostaticdevice. Magnet .17 is included in the local circuit.

26 is a steam .pipe'connected to the top of the vessel.

28. Situated. at the bottom of the vessel, just above the top of theconical portion, is a screen 29, preferably made in two parts for thefacility of removal, and supported upon offsets 30 secured to the shellof the vessel.

The method of effecting the solution is as follows: A certain quantityof the solid extract of quebracho 31, is placed upon the screen 29. Thevessel is then filled with water, indicated at 32, until the vessel isapproximately seven-eighths full, and the cover (1 closed and fastened.The water is preferably at the temperature of the atmosphere, but may bepreviously heated. After the water is introduced, steam is introducedthrough the pipe 13 and nozzle 14. The introduction of the steam servesto increase the heat of the water and to produce a circulation of thewater up through the tube 11 and downward in the vessel, as indicated bythe arrows. The thermostatic device is set Patented-pee. s, 1913.

the vessel is a tube-11 open at the top and 27, a delivery pipecontrolled by the valve I the. instrumentalityof which the method cantom ofwhichleads a delivery pipe- 9 to i located below 7 11. Located. inthe pipe 13 is a valve 15 r lit? COPY

for 175 Fahrenheit. So long as the water is below 17 Fahrenheit, the--steam will be i allowedto enter. When it reaches'the tem- PBIEItIIIQStRtBd, the thermostat closes the local circuit, the magnet 17 attractsits armature, and-closes the valve 15, thus'shutting off the entrance offurther-steam until the temperature drops below '17 59 It will be seenfrom the above description that the access of. air to the solution isprevented, -and that the water iscirculated through the solid extract ofquebracho until all of the soluble matter of the extract enters intosolution, the insoluble matter falling through the screen 29, to besubsequently discharged through-the delivery pipe 9, and the solutiondischarged through the delivery In this application I have stated themaximum temperature of. the circulating fluid a-s 175 Fahrenheit.- Iwish it understood that this temperature may be increased ordiminished,- in accordance 'with thecharacter of the quebracho treated,and by the term character, I mean .the amount or condition of thetannincarried thereby.j

Samples of.qu'eli:icho will be rendered indsoluble when treaudin theatmosphere with;

water of 125 Fahrenheit;-'with others, the' temperature ofth-itaterlmaybe carried up to QZO Fahrenheit. I have chosen 175 as beingthe temperature best adapted to the .a'verage' quality of quebrachm- 4Haying thus described my invention, I

claim 1. The herein described method whichconsists in subjecting solidextract "of 'qu'e brachof, '{while contained in a 'closed -vessel, andtherefore not subject'toI the action of, the atmosphere, to the actionofcirculatingwater maintained at a temperature not higherfijhan 175Fahrenheit, and 'then draw-ingi-ofi the solution ters sepe rately. I

The herein described'fimethod' which brachoin a vessel closed to theatmosphere, .then introducing steameto heat thewat-er land producing acirculation of the water through"; the quebracho, and limiting-the heatimparted to the water to 175 F ahrerr;

and insoluble mat-'- consist-sgi n immersing solid extract of queheit,then drawing off the solution and in

